Marionette

ABSTRACT

A marionette  1  includes a FIG.  3  having a number of segments, at least two segments connected by steering strings with a control device ( 2 ). At least one active segment is connected with the control device ( 2 ) by the steering string exiting the surface of this segment at the steering point. An adjacent segment comprises a convex contact surface. Connectors ( 5, 81 ) exit these segments at the connecting points ( 51, 55 ) which are displaceable with regard to each other. A centroid of the convex contact surface ( 71, 731, 75 ) is located below the connecting point ( 51, 531, 55 ) of the convex contact surface. In a predefined free overhang position of the figure  3,  a straight line ( 312, 3321, 3322, 352 ) extending between the connecting point ( 51, 531, 532, 55 ) of the active segment ( 31, 33, 35 ) and the steering point extends above the segment center of gravity.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage of PCT International PatentApplication no. PCT/PL2010/000129, filed 30 Dec. 2010, the contents ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a marionette comprising a figure having anumber of segments, wherein at least two segments are connected by meansof steering strings with a control device and at least two segments aresubstantially rigid.

BACKGROUND

Various marionettes are known from the state of art.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,901,707 discloses a marionette toy comprising a figurehaving a shape of the human body consisting of a plurality of moldedrigid sections connected with a plurality of strings wherein thesegments are threaded on the strings and form spheroid joints.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,048,749 discloses a hand operated puppet which isoperable from overhead puppet strings with the generally articulatedfigure of a bird. A plurality of styrofoam and fabric balls are strungtogether to form the legs and body with strips of fake fur attached tothe body balls, and feathers on the head. The segments of the puppet areslidably threaded on a string and connected with hands and a neck whichfreely collocates along a catenary curve.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,388 discloses a flight simulating mobile device.According to this invention any of a variety of different bird,butterfly or like flying creatures may be fabricated of plastic or likematerial, readily assembled, and balanced in such manner that whensuspended in air current the same provides a realistic replication of acreature in flight. The device has a shape of a bird having wingsattached via hinges enabling for a rotational movement of each wings inone pivotal axis.

Other marionette arrangements comprising rigid segments are disclosedfor example in the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 2,113,839; U.S.Pat. No. 6,827,626; U.S. Pat. No. 2,202,677; U.S. Pat. No. 2,238,455;U.S. Pat. No. 2,662,338; U.S. Pat. No. 3,195,265; U.S. Pat. No.4,690,655 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,029.

Figures of prior art marionettes generally comprise rigid segments witharticulated limbs, wherein means connecting adjoining segments such asstrings or joints are either visible or masked for example by clothes ofa marionette.

In other solutions of this kind limbs of a figure are soft or made ofmany articulated segments. In general they collocate along a catenarycurve and in a direction opposite to the direction of naturalgenuflection, wherein an appropriate weight is most commonly placed in arigid foot segment to which a steering string is attached. Although suchsolutions provide an aesthetic appearance of a marionette figure and itsgood movement capabilities they may not accurately reflect the movementof the animal they depict.

On the other hand known marionettes that accurately reflect the qualityof their real originals are provided with control arrangements that arecomplicated and thus difficult to operate.

In general known marionettes do not provide sufficient freedom indesigning a shape of marionette figure which freedom is stronglyrestricted by the necessity for providing appropriate movementcapabilities of a figure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore an object of the present invention was to provide a marionettethe construction of which would substantially increase the freedom indeveloping new and original shapes of the figure in comparison with theprior art solutions, wherein such a marionette would also have arelatively simple construction and would be easier to operate.

According to the present invention there is provided a marionette asdescribed in the outset, wherein a connection between at least oneactive segment, which is connected with the control device by means ofthe steering string exiting the surface of this segment at the steeringpoint, and an adjacent segment comprises a convex contact surface on oneof these segments and a connection means exiting the surfaces of thesesegments at the connecting points, wherein said connecting points aredisplaceable with regard to each other, a centroid of said convexcontact surface is located below the connecting point of the segmentcomprising this surface, and in the predefined free overhang position ofthe figure straight line between the connecting point of said activesegment and the steering point of this segment extends above the gravitycentre of this segment.

A “free overhang position” according to the present invention denotes astate of a marionette in which its figure is in a predetermined initialconfiguration, freely hanged in the air on steering strings with nosegments resting on any supporting surface wherein a control device isoriented in its primary, in most cases substantially horizontal,position.

The term “contact surface” according to the present invention is a setof points on the surface of a segment in which the segment contacts theadjacent segment connected therewith for the whole range of possiblemutual movements between these segments.

The term “centroid” should be according to the invention understood as ageometric centre of the shape of a contact surface.

The term “steering point” according to the present invention is a pointin which a steering string is led out from the volume of a segment or apoint in which a steering string is attached to the surface of asegment.

The term “connection point” means a point in which connection means areled out from the volume of a segment or a point in which connectionmeans are attached to the surface of a segment.

The term “connection means” should be understood as any means enablingfor connecting adjacent segments in such a manner that their connectionpoints are displaceable with regard to each other, such as string orchain.

The term “active segment” in particular denotes according to the presentinvention an outermost active segment connected solely with one passivesegment.

In a preferred embodiment of a marionette according to the presentinvention a centroid of a contact surface on the other segment of saidconnection is located below the connecting point of this segmentcomprising this contact surface.

Said connection between two segments of a marionette advantageouslycomprises a convex contact surface on one of these segments, and aconcave contact surface on the other segment of said connection.

A steering string of at least one active segment exits the surface ofthis segment at a steering point advantageously located in thesurroundings of the vertical axis crossing the gravity centre of thissegment.

According to the present invention at least, one active segment ispreferably disposed slidably on a string and in the predefined freeoverhang position of a figure presses its adjacent segment.

Preferably a connection between two segments comprises a distancingelement disposed on the connection means between these segments.

At least one segment preferably comprises two axial channels crossingeach other for a string.

In some embodiments it may be advantageous that at least one of segmentsof a figure is/are provided with at least one sound emitting deviceand/or light emitting device and/or camera to register the surroundingof the figure which is/are advantageously controlled by manipulator.

A figure of a marionette according to the present invention isadvantageously assembled from a set of pieces, and in particular a setof pieces forming a construction puzzle wherein in particular saidpieces are advantageously connected by means of a releasable frictionalconnection.

According to one of the preferred embodiments a marionette figureincludes at least one base segment depicting the body of the figure andat least two side segments adjacent to said base segment and connectedwith a control device.

Said side segments may advantageously depict legs of a marionette figureand between said base segment and said side segments a loose part of astring is preferably disposed.

Side segments of a marionette according to the present invention mayalso preferably depict wings of a marionette figure, wherein said basesegment is connected with said side segment by means of a string in atleast two points and said side segment is preferably slidably disposedon this string.

The solution according to the present invention minimizes frictionforces generated in joint connections between particular segments of amarionette figure.

In a result of this according to the present invention in a freeoverhang position segments always form the same predefined by a designerfigure of a marionette, i.e. segments are self-aligned into a predefinedoverhang position by gravitational force.

Moreover active segments may be dislocated from the aligned predefinedoverhang position (constituting de facto an arrangement of unstableequilibrium) by applying very small forces acting on steering strings.

Structure of a connection according to the present invention enables forcovering up the area of a joint between adjacent segments thereby makingit invisible from the outside and making an impression of integrity ofthe shape of a marionette figure formed by a number of separatesegments.

In comparison with a great majority of known marionettes having figurescomposed of rigid segments forming lower kinematic pairs, in amarionette according to the present invention figure segments areconnected forming higher kinematic pairs.

A marionette according to the present invention provides for a designerconsiderably greater degree of freedom in developing new and originalshapes of its figure in comparison with prior art solutions.

A solution of the present invention features superb motional propertiesmaking their movements very natural and truly imitative for realmovements even when being steered with a use of a simple ordinarycontrol device handled by a child, which a marionette is primarilydesigned for.

Finally a solution according to the present invention enables fast andeasy collapsing a marionette into the rest position (taking much lessspace than in working position) and placing it inside an appropriatecontainer for the purpose of storing and transporting, as well as fastand easy unpacking it from the container to put it into the working(free overhang) position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will befully apparent from the following description when taken in connectionwith the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment of amarionette according to the present invention in a free overhangposition,

FIG. 2 a is a cross sectional view of the first exemplary embodiment ofsegment connection according to. the present invention for themarionette of FIG. 1,

FIGS. 2 b and 2 c present schematic views of the connection of FIG. 2 ain two terminal positions of the opposed dislocation of a head segment,

FIG. 3 a is a front view of the second exemplary embodiment of segmentconnection according to the present invention for the marionette of FIG.1,

FIG. 3 b presents schematic view of the connection of FIG. 3 a with legsegment steering strings being unstrained,

FIG. 3 c presents schematic view of the connection of FIG. 3 a with oneleg segment raised up, and

FIGS. 4 a. and 4 b present the second embodiment of a marionetteaccording to the present invention in a schematic perspective and sideview respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, a marionette 1 comprises a multi-segment FIG. 3,which in the presented embodiment has a form of a dinosaur, and acontrol device 2. The control device 2 is made of plastic material andhas a form of a four-armed cross-piece element which in the presentedfree overhang position is oriented horizontally.

The FIG. 3 comprises six rigid plastic segments depicting a head 31, aneck 32, a body 33, a tail 37 and two legs 35 of a dinosaur. Segments31, 33, 35 and 37 to which in steering points 411, 431, 451, 471respective steering strings 41, 43, 45 and 47 are attached, are activesegments, whereas the segment 32 is a passive segment.

Generally according to the present invention a number of passivesegments between the adjacent active segments is not restricted in anyway; no passive segment may also be used.

The second ends of steering strings 4 are attached to thecross-controller 2, wherein the steering strings 41, 45 and 47 areattached to the outer ends of the controller arms and the steeringstring 43 is attached near the centre of the device 2.

The segments of marionette 1 are coupled via specific connectionsaccording to the present invention, the exemplary illustrativeembodiments of which are presented in details in FIGS. 2 a-2 c and 3 a-3c.

FIG. 2 a presents a construction of a connection between two activesegments 31 and 33 separated by the passive neck segment 32, wherein theconstruction is presented for the free overhang position shown in FIG.1.

The head segment 31, the neck segment 32 and the body segment 33 aredisposed slidably on the string 41, 5 which is conducted in throughchannels formed in these segments wherein the end of the string 41, 5opposite to the end connected to the control device is blocked againstbeing drawn into the internal channel 631, 6312 of the body segment 33by means of a blocking element 412 fixed or formed on its end.

In this connection embodiment, the section of the string exiting the topsurface of the head segment 31 forms the steering string 41 while theremaining length of the string forms a connecting string 5 coupling thehead segment 31 with the neck segment 32 as well as the neck segment 32with the body segment 33.

The connection string 5 connecting series of segments 31, 32, 33 isconducted via internal through channels 61, 62, 631 of the segments andexits their surfaces in the connecting points 51, 521, 522, 531.

The through channels 61, 631 of the head segment 31 and the body segment33 are formed by pairs of perpendicular intersectional channels 611,612, 6311, 6312 respectively.

Each of two connections presented in the drawings comprises twocorresponding contact surfaces 71, 721, 722, 731, the centroids 711,7211, 7221, 7311 of which are located below of respective connectingpoints 51, 521, 522, 531 located on these contact surfaces.

The contact surface comprises according to the present invention a setof points on the surface of a marionette figure segment in which thesegment contacts the adjacent segment connected therewith for the wholerange of possible mutual movements between these segments. For examplein the presented marionette embodiment in the plane of the sectionalview, the boundary points of the envelope circumference curve of thecontact areas 71, 721, 722, 731 are the points of contact between thesegments 31, 32, 33 in two extreme dislocations of the head segments aspresented in FIGS. 2 b and 2 c.

In the presented embodiment the contact areas 71, 731 of the activesegments 31, 33 are convex while the contact areas 721, 722 of thepassive segment 32 are concave.

The connecting points 51, 521, 522, 531 located in the outlets of thethrough channels 61, 62, 631 located on the contact areas 71, 721, 722,731 through which connecting sections of the string 41, 5 exit from thesegments 31, 32, 33 (thus the outlets represent connection pointsaccording to the present invention), are placed above the respectivecentroids 711, 7211, 7221, 7311.

The outlet 411 of the channel 61 of the head segment 31 through whichthe steering string section 41 connected to the control device is ledout (thus the outlet represents a steering point according to thepresent invention) is placed on the vertical axis running through thegravity centre 311 of the head segment 31.

Also the steering point 431 of the steering string 43 of the bodysegment 33 is located on the vertical axis running through the gravitycentre 331 of the segment 33.

Locating a steering point in the surroundings of the vertical axiscrossing the gravity center of a segment is not essential featureaccording to the present invention however in some embodiments it may beadvantageous for outermost active segments, especially for segmentswhich do not contact ground and do not transmit a weight of figure, suchas for example head, arm or wing segments.

The outlet of the through channel 62 of the passive segment 32constituting the connecting point 521 on the contact area 721 is rimmedby a distancing collar 321. Between the marionette segments 32, 33 onthe connecting string 5 a distancing slidable element in a form of asmall bead 36 is threaded. Using distancing elements such as distancingcollars or slidable distancing beads is optional according to thepresent invention.

For the active segments 31, 33, the straight lines 312, 3321 betweentheir connecting points 51, 531 and their steering points 411, 431extend over the centers of gravity 311, 331 of these segments.

An internal route of a segment through channel is not essential featureaccording to the present invention. A crucial requirement is howeverthat a connecting/steering string exits the surfaces of these segmentswhich are coupled by it at connecting points located above the centroidsof contact surfaces of a connection between the segments.

FIG. 2 b shows a structure of the connection of FIG. 2 a where the headsegment 31 is after risen up by pulling up its steering string 41. Inconsequence of a movement of the head segment 31 also the passive necksegment. 32 has been dislocated. As shown the corresponding contactsurfaces of the segments are set apart for a greater distance from eachother while the steering/connecting string has been tensioned into astraight line-like form.

FIG. 2 c shows a structure of the connection of FIG. 2 a after movingthe head segment 31 down by displacing its steering string 41 downwards.In comparison to FIG. 2 b, except for dislocation of the passive necksegment. 32, additionally a visible considerable increase of the lengthof the connection section of the steering/connecting string occurredbetween the neck segment 32 and the body segment 33 as well as betweenthe neck segment 32 and the head segment 31.

Each of exemplary connections presented in FIGS. 2 a-2 c comprises oneconvex contact surface and corresponding one concave contact surface.However it should here be noted that crucial requirements according tothe present invention are that a connection has to comprise at least oneconvex contact surface and that a centroid of this contact surface islocated below the connecting point of the segment comprising thisconnecting surface. A shape of a corresponding contact surface andlocation of a connection point on the other segment are inessential forobtaining the advantageous results of the present invention. The otherconnecting surface would be for example flat, however concavity of thesurface is very advantageous as it enables for hiding an area of aconnection making an impression of figure integrity.

FIG. 3 a presents a construction of a connection between the active bodysegment 33 and two active leg segments 35 of the FIG. 3 presented inFIG. 1 in a free overhang position. As shown, each leg segment 35 isconnected to the body segment 33 via a connecting string 8. The ends ofthe connecting string 8 are fixedly attached to the leg segments 35 inconnecting points 55 and the string 8 exits the surface of the bodysegment 33 in connecting points 532 forming external sections 81, whichin a free overhang position are of equal lengths, and an internalsection conducted via a horizontal transverse through channel 632 formedin the body segment 33.

In this connection configuration the connecting points 55, 532 arelocated above the centroids 7321, 751 of the corresponding contactsurfaces 732, 75 of the segments 33,35.

In this embodiment, as contrasted with the connection shown in FIGS. 2a-2 c, both contact surfaces 75, 732 of each connection are convex.

Similarly to the connection embodiment of FIGS. 2 a-2 c, for each ofsegments 33, 35 the straight line 3322, 352 between the connectingpoints 532, 55 and the steering points 431, 451 extend over the centersof gravity 331, 351 of the segments 33, 35.

In this embodiment the leg segment 35 is composed of two pieces 35 a, 35b connected with each other by means of a releasable frictionalconnection 354.

In other embodiments of a marionette figure according to the presentinvention, set of pieces of a segment is preferably designed to form aconstruction puzzle.

FIGS. 3 b and 3 c illustrate a functionality difference between theconnection embodiments of FIGS. 2 a-2 c and FIG. 3. It is visible thatowing to a fixed connection of the ends of the string 8 to the legsegments 35, the leg segments may transmit a weight of the body segment33 on the ground. In FIG. 3 b the structure of FIG. 3 a (presented therein a free overhang position) is presented in a standing position withall steering strings 43, 45 being unstrained (what is represented bywaved lines) while the weight of the body segment 33 is transmitted onthe ground by two strained connecting sections 81 of the connectingstring 8 and the leg segments 35. In FIG. 3 c the structure of FIG. 3 ais presented in an intermediate phase of taking a step, the right legsegment 35 is lifted over the ground by pulling up its steering string45. The steering strings 45, 43 of the remaining left leg segment 35 andbody segment 33 are unstrained wherein the whole weight of the bodysegment 33 is transmitted on the ground by one strained left connectingsection 81 of the connecting string 8 and the second left leg segment35.

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show second embodiment of a marionette V according tothe present invention. The marionette FIG. 3′ represents a pterosaur andcomprises four active segments including a head segment 31′, a bodysegment 33′, and two similar side segments 35′ representing wings of thepterosaur, and one passive neck segment 32′.

The head segment 31′, the neck segment 32′ and the body segment 33′ arecoupled via a string 5′ forming connections in the similar manner aspresented in FIGS. 2 a-2 c, wherein between the corresponding contactsurfaces no distance element (neither a distancing collar nor adistancing bead) is arranged and the corresponding contact surfaces aredirectly contacting with each other.

The wing segments 35′ are coupled to the body segment 33′ via a secondconnecting string 8′ of the steering strings 43′ of the body segment33′. The steering strings 43′ of the body segment 33′ are virtually theterminal sections of one string the middle section of which forming theconnecting string 8′ is conducted via appropriate through channelsformed in the body segment 33′ and in the wing segments 35′ for couplingthese segments with each other.

The segments 33′, 35′ are slidably disposed on the connecting string 8′.Each of the wing segments 35′ is provided with one steering string 45′fixed to its top surface in the steering point 451′ determined by thevertical axis running through the centre of gravity 351′ of the segment35′, and comprises two channels 651, 652 for the connecting string 8′wherein each channel 651, 652 is formed from two crossing sectionsoriented perpendicularly to each other.

The body segment 33′ is provided with a substantially (slightlybackhanded) vertical through channel 633 into which from the above thesteering string 43′ is introduced. The steering string 43′, from now asthe connecting string 8′/exits the body segment 33′ through the bottomoutlet of the channel 633 and enters the rear channel 652 of the leftwing segment 35′, and then runs through the front channel 651 of thesegment 35′. After exiting the left segment 35′ the connecting section8′ enters back to the body segment 33′ via its transverse horizontalthrough channel 634. Further the string is led outside the body segment33′ and is conducted successively via front and rear channels 651, 652of the right wing segment 35′ and then is again introduced into the bodysegment 33′ through the bottom outlet of the vertical channel 633, andfinally is led out of the body segment 33′ as the second steering string43′ connected to the control device.

In order to improve a functionality of a marionette according to thepresent invention their segments may be provided with sound and/or lightemitting device(s) which preferably is(are) operated and controlled bymanipulator. One of segments may also be provided with a camera toregister the external environment which is also advantageouslycontrolled by manipulator.

The above embodiments of the present invention are merely exemplary. Thedrawings are not necessarily to scale and some features may beexaggerated or minimized. It will be understood by persons skilled inthe relevant art that various changes in the form and details can bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. These and other factors however should not be considered aslimiting the spirit of the invention, the intended scope of protectionof which is indicated in appended claims.

1. A marionette comprising a figure having a number of segments, whereinat least two segments are connected by steering strings with a controldevice and at least two segments are substantially rigid, a connectionbetween at least one active segment, which is connected with the controldevice by a steering string exiting a surface of the at least one activesegment at a steering point, and an adjacent segment comprises a convexcontact surface located on one segment and a connector exiting surfacesof the segments at the connecting points, wherein said connecting pointsare displaceable with regard to each other, a centroid of said convexcontact surface is located below the connecting point of the segmenthaving the convex contact surface, and in a predefined free overhangposition of the figure, a straight line located between the connectingpoint of said at least one active segment and the steering point of saidat least one active segment extends above a center of gravity thereof.2. The marionette according to claim 1, wherein a centroid of a contactsurface on the adjacent segment of said connection is located below theconnecting point thereof.
 3. The marionette according to claim 1,wherein the connection between two segments comprises a convex contactsurface on one, segment connected to a concave contact surface onanother segment.
 4. The marionette according to claim 1, wherein thesteering string of at least one active segment exits a surface thereofat the steering point located in an area surrounding a vertical axiscrossing a center of gravity of the at least one active segment.
 5. Themarionette according to claim 1, wherein the at least one active segmentis disposed slidably on a string, and in the predefined free overhangposition of the figure, presses against the adjacent segment.
 6. Themarionette according to claim 1, further comprising disposed on theconnector located between the connected segments.
 7. The marionetteaccording to claim 1, wherein at least one segment has two axialchannels which cross each other for receiving a string.
 8. Themarionette according to claim 1, wherein at least one segment has atleast one sound emitting device.
 9. The marionette according to claim 1,wherein at least segment has at least one light emitting device.
 10. Themarionette according to claim 1, wherein at least segment has at leastone camera.
 11. The marionette according to claim 1, wherein the figureis assembled from a set of pieces.
 12. The marionette according to claim11, wherein said pieces are connected by a releasable frictionalconnection.
 13. The marionette according to claim 1, further comprisingat least one base segment depicting a body of the figure and at leasttwo side segments adjacent to said base segment and connected with thecontrol device.
 14. The marionette according to claim 13, wherein saidside segments depict legs of the figure and between said base segmentand said side segments, a loose part of a string is disposed.
 15. Themarionette according to claim 13, wherein said side segments depictwings of the figure, wherein the base segment is connected with saidside segment by a string in at least two points and said side segment isslidably disposed on the string.
 16. The marionette according to claim 8further comprising a manipulator for controlling the at least one soundemitting device.
 17. The marionette according to claim 9 furthercomprising a manipulator for controlling the at least one light emittingdevice.
 18. The marionette according to claim 11, wherein the set ofpieces form a construction puzzle.